Sanwei V5 Pro vs Stiga Carbonado 145: Which Should You Buy?
| Sanwei V5 Pro | Stiga Carbonado 145 | |
|---|---|---|
| Our rating | 8.5/10 | 8.4/10 |
| feel | hard, fast, crisp all-wood with strong vibration and a high-pitched ping | stiff, direct and rather linear with a large sweet spot, but the very thin TeXtreme layers keep the vibration close to a 5-ply all-wood blade |
| handle | FL/ST | FL/ST (also offered as Legend and penhold) |
| plies | 7W (all wood) — ash outer plies over an ayous core | 5 wood plus 2 TeXtreme carbon (5+2 composite) with the carbon fibers laid at a 45 degree angle for torsional bendability |
| speed | OFF | OFF+ |
| thickness_mm | 6.3 | 5.7 |
| weight_g | 90 | 85 |
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These two offensive blades reach high speed by different routes. The Sanwei V5 Pro is a 7-ply all-wood blade with ash outer plies that delivers crisp, high-pitched pace and lively vibration, all at a price that undercuts blades costing several times more. The Stiga Carbonado 145 is a 5+2 TeXtreme carbon composite that runs OFF+ with plenty of mid-distance power, yet its very thin carbon layers keep the feedback close to a 5-ply all-wood blade.
The V5 Pro is surprisingly controllable for its speed, with a large sweet spot, strong looping and good short game, though it demands solid technique and varies a little copy to copy. The Carbonado 145 gives stiffer, more direct power and very aggressive blocking on both wings, but it is unforgiving for players still building consistency and is now discontinued and hard to source.
Choose the V5 Pro if you want a fast, spinny all-wood blade with strong feel on a tight budget and have reliable strokes. Choose the Carbonado 145 if you want a stiff carbon blade with wood-like feedback for close-to-mid offense and you can still find one new.
Both carry near-identical ratings, so the decision comes down to all-wood feel versus carbon stiffness.
FAQ
Which blade is faster?
The Stiga Carbonado 145 is rated OFF+ and is the faster, stiffer blade, while the Sanwei V5 Pro plays closer to OFF despite its lively all-wood pace.
Does the Carbonado 145 feel like carbon?
Its very thin TeXtreme layers keep the vibration close to a 5-ply all-wood blade, so it offers more wood-like feedback than most carbon blades.
Is the Carbonado 145 still available?
It is now discontinued and hard to source new, so the Sanwei V5 Pro is the easier blade to buy if availability matters.
Which is better for a developing player?
Both demand solid technique, but the V5 Pro is more forgiving with a large sweet spot, while the Carbonado 145 is unforgiving for players still building consistency.